Farmers on Verge of Record Corn Harvest

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture | Nov 08, 2013

U.S. corn growers remain on track for a record high 14.0 billion bushel production year, according to the Crop Production report, released today by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS).

In addition to corn numbers, the report also included updated forecasts for U.S. citrus production, and major field crops, such as soybeans and cotton.

Based on administrative data, NASS revised the acreage planted to corn this season to 95.3 million acres, down 2% from the previous estimate.

Despite the decrease, however, production forecast remained high due to high forecasted yields. This season’s yields are expected to average 160.4 bushels per acre, with corn growers in 18 states forecast to reach record yields this year.

The weather also remains good for harvest so far this year, allowing growers to harvest 73% of the corn crop by Nov. 3, which is 2% ahead of the five-year average harvest rate.

NASS also reduced the planted area for soybeans to 76.5 million acres, down 1% from the previous forecast. Just as with corn, however, favorable weather conditions account for higher pod counts compared with the 2012 yield. Soybean yields are expected to average 43.0 bushels per acre, with the final production forecast at 3.26 billion bushels. If realized, this will be the third-largest production year on record.

NASS interviewed approximately 10,000 producers across the country in preparation for this report. In addition to farmer interviews, NASS also used its national and state level objective yield measurements to determine accurate yield and production forecasts.

The Crop Production report is published monthly and is available online at www.nass.usda.gov.